Monday, October 31, 2016

Irene Hannon is one of the "greats" when it comes to romantic suspense, and she has another hit with the conclusion of her Men of Valor series -- Tangled Webs.

The McGregor brothers were awesome heroes in this series -- not perfect heroes, each flawed in different ways, but heroes I would love to have fighting for me -- and the importance of family comes through in this book as it did in the earlier ones. Dana is the perfect "damsel in distress"/but very strong woman for Finn's story. Watching the two of them heal and dare to love as they deal with life and death dangers makes for a great page turner. Irene weaves elements of inspiration into the story in ways that feel very natural and fitting to the situation.

(An interesting side note: It was fun to see some of the action take place in the town of Potosi, where I have lived for the past several years.)

Thanks to the Revell Reads program for providing a copy of Tangled Webs. I was delighted to read the book and share my thoughts through this review.

About the Book:

Finn has packed away his combat instincts--but he may need them again when danger begins to stalk his quiet hideaway . . .

After a disastrous Middle East mission ends his six-year Army Ranger
career, Finn McGregor needs some downtime. A peaceful month in the woods
sounds like the perfect way to decompress. But peace isn't on the
agenda once he crosses paths with publishing executive Dana Lewis, a
neighbor who is nursing wounds of her own. Someone seems bent on
disrupting her stay in the lakeside cabin she inherited from her
grandfather. As Finn and Dana work together to discover who is behind
the disquieting pranks, the incidents begin to take on a menacing tone.
And when it becomes apparent Dana's foe may have deadly intent, Finn
finds himself back in the thick of the action--ready or not.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon draws
readers into a web of psychological suspense where danger lurks in dark
corners . . . and keeps them captive until the very last page.

About the Author:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including One Perfect Spring, Hope Harbor, and Sea Rose Lane,
as well as the Private Justice and Men of Valor suspense series. Her
books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance
Writers of America, two Carol Awards, two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews
magazine, a Retailers' Choice Award, three HOLT Medallions, two
Booksellers' Best Awards, and a National Readers' Choice Award. She is
also a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at
www.irenehannon.com.

Suzanne Woods Fisher never fails to delight and inspire with her Amish stories. Her latest visit to Stoney Ridge, The Devoted, is certainly no exception.

I have loved the entire Bishop's Family series. David Stoltzfus is a caring, devoted bishop, in spite of his own uncertainties about his ability to do a good job. Over the span of the three books, he finds himself dealing with a wide range of challenges related to his own family, as well as other members of his church district. With wisdom, and sometimes the help of his insightful wife Birdy, he effectively leads those he is responsible for.

Ruthie is one of the most vibrant characters in the series, and she really shines in The Devoted. She has important decisions to make about her life and learns many lessons that affect her choices. Patrick Kelly is a fascinating character who adds a very interesting element to the story. And it is always fun to revisit characters from previous books and even previous series. Suzanne threw some twists into the story that kept engagement high. I hope we haven't seen the last of Stoney Ridge.

Fans of great Amish fiction should enjoy The Devoted. I would recommend that you read the earlier two books so that you know about the characters.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of this book. I was happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

Restless and adventurous, Ruthie Stoltzfus is right on the cusp of
leaving her Amish home. Secretly, she’s earned her GED, saved her
money—but she can’t quite set her journey into motion. Just as
everything falls into place, along comes Patrick Kelly.

Patrick is a young man on a journey of his own. He’s come to Stoney
Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn
the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to “everything Plain.” Time is
of the essence and every moment is to be cherished—especially the hours
he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie’s next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock,
is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong,
defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back—and Patrick Kelly is in his way.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney
Ridge for a story of dreams deferred—and the promise of hopes fulfilled.

About the Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author whose most recent novels include Anna’s Crossing and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

If you are interested in what other readers think about The Devoted, visit the blogs listed below. The dates tell you when their reviews should be posted.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

I'm a sucker for a sweet, feel-good Christmas story. Cynthia Ruchti's Restoring Christmas is every bit of that . . . but so much more. In fact, it is one of the most touching stories I've read in a long time.

Cynthia has such a gentle way with words, and she definitely worked her magic in this one. Alexis, Gabe, and Elsie -- as well as the other characters who show up -- are all very intriguing, both as individuals and as the unexpected, mismatched company they become. Cynthia packs so much into this short book, using her limited pages to fill in the back stories of her characters, stories so important in understanding their perspectives on Christmas and the all-important, heart-deep restoration needed by each one.

The book has laugh-out-loud moments and times when you will likely wipe away some tears. As the story reaches its resolution, there are beautiful elements which especially pull at the heartstrings. The only bad thing in the book was that I wasn't ready to see the end.

Restoring Christmas is a must read to help get your mind and heart ready for Christmas and beyond. Thanks to Cynthia for sharing a copy of her story. I am excited to share my thoughts with other readers.

About the Book:

Alexis Blake set out to restore a neglected building. What she didn’t expect was to restore a life…

Alexis has one chance to land her own show
on the Heart-and-Home Network, and nothing–not an uncooperative client, a
job site without indoor plumbing, or a challenging videographer–is
going to stand in her way.

Elsie Raymond, at seventy-plus, is far from
the ideal client, but she knows exactly what she wants her fieldstone
house to look like, and no designer can tell her otherwise.

Gabe Langley, the man with the camera, is
caught in the middle and it is his wisdom and warmth that just may be
the bridge that will bring these two women together. Can they restore
more than just a house and save Christmas memories from being lost
forever?

About the Author:

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope. She's the
award-winning author of 17 books and a frequent speaker for women's
ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for
American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers,
libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love.
She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Christmas
at Promise Lodge is
Charlotte Hubbard's delightful second installment in her Promise Lodge series.

Things
start off on a high note with the preparation for Promise Lodge's first marriage
celebration . . . but then as sometimes happens in Charlotte's stories, there
is a twist with a difficult bishop. (Readers of her Seasons of the
Heart series know exactly what I mean!) Lots of challenges -- some of
them very big ones -- mixed with love and patience bring all kinds of
excitement as the community moves toward their first Christmas together.

As
always, Charlotte fills her story with a wide variety of characters you either
love or love to hate . . . or at least strongly dislike at times. The
relationships and conflicts keep the story moving at a very engaging
level. Although some outcomes are pretty much expected, there are lots of
twists and turns along the way. Fans of great Amish fiction should really
enjoy this story.

Thanks
to Charlotte and her publisher for providing a copy of this book. I was
happy to write this honest review based on my own thoughts.

About the Book:

Promise Lodge's first wedding is cause for celebration—but the bishop's
narrow-minded wedding sermon doesn't sit well with the Bender sisters,
especially widowed Mattie Schwartz. She believes marriage and family aren't the
only important gifts God gives--even if she suspects her tender feelings for
Preacher Amos Troyer run deeper than simple friendship. Amos hasn't given up
hope that stubborn, spirited Mattie will change her mind about taking another
husband, but when an accident threatens to change his life forever, he wonders
if the Lord has sent him a message. He'll need faith, hope, and charity to find
the right path—and a Christmas blessing to convince Mattie to walk it with him.

Exclusive
Excerpt from the Book:

Mattie
felt calmer as she made her way to the eck table. The bride and groom sat in
the center, and behind them sat a white cake decorated in pale blue, displayed
on the glass cake plate Mattie had used when she’d married Marvin Schwartz—an
idea Beulah and Ruby had suggested after they’d baked and decorated the cake
together.

“It’s
gut to see all you kids enjoying this wonderful day,” Mattie murmured as she
reached for Noah and Deborah’s hands. “And I wish you two a lifetime of God’s
blessings as you begin your life together.”

Deborah
grabbed Mattie’s hand between both of hers and squeezed it. “We can’t thank you
and Amos enough for our plot of land, and for building us a beautiful home,”
she replied earnestly. She leaned farther over the table, lowering her voice.
“And I hope you and your sisters and Amos can work out a solution—a sensible
peace—about running your businesses and marrying in God’s gut time rather than
in Bishop Floyd’s.”

A
sensible peace . . . in God’s gut time rather than Bishop Floyd’s. Was that too
much to hope for? Too much to ask of God, the father of them all?

“Denki,
Deborah. That’s a lovely idea,” Mattie murmured. She felt blessed indeed,
witnessing the mature, sincere faith reflected in all the young faces at this
table. “Our mission as God’s Plain people is always to attain the peace He
desires for us—in our relationship with Him, and amongst ourselves, as well.”

About the Author:

Many
moons ago—like, in 1983 while she was still a school librarian—Charlotte
Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. This launched her into writing
around seventy of those “true confessions” stories over the years, and she’s
been a slave to her overactive imagination ever since. Over the course of her
writing career, she has sold nearly 50 books—most recently, Amish romance
series she’s written as Charlotte Hubbard or Naomi King.

Charlotte
lived in Missouri for most of her life, so her Amish stories are set in
imaginary Missouri towns. These days she lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband
of 40 years and their Border collie, Ramona.

Charlotte will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N gift card to a randomly drawn
winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Enter here to win!

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Shelley Shepard Gray takes us for a third visit to Charm, Ohio, in A Sister's Wish. Once again, she has provided a delightful story filled with "charming" characters.

The Kinsinger family have been in the forefront in this Charmed Amish Life series, and they are characters so well portrayed that you care for them as close friends. Amelia's story is not all pleasant and easy; she has faced some struggles while attempting to take care of her family and putting many of her own desires away. Simon has a past with lots of baggage, some of which he still carries around. Shelley presents their story beautifully as one of forgiveness, reconciliation and dealing with the hard stuff of life.

Fans of great Amish fiction should enjoy A Sister's Wish, as well as the first two books in the series. Thanks to Shelley and her publisher for providing a copy of this book. I was delighted to write an honest review.

About the Book:

In
Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a
respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the
wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish
woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride
in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in
love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too
bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get… but
that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t
been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and
things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But
the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s
determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about
his wild past…unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for
years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world.
When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on
her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to
be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves
better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly
make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain
of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face
their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares
to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

A Visit to Charm:

As schedules would work out, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Charm, Ohio, just this week, our fourth time to have that pleasure. I thought for a little fun, I would share in this post a few pictures I snapped that just might represent some of Shelley's inspiration for A Sister's Wish. As is mentioned in her book, Shelley mixes real and imagined locations in her story; these pictures represent some of both.

One of our first stops just before entering Charm was Hershberger's Farm and Bakery -- which, by the way, has the best fry pies I have ever eaten. In their petting zoo, you can find several goats. I can't help but wonder if some of them are relatives of Amelia's pet goat, Princess.

One of the major businesses in Shelley's version of Charm, of course, is Kinsinger Lumber Company. Is it possible that Kinsinger just might have been designed around the real-life Keim Lumber Company?

And what about a meal Simon has with someone special at Grandma's Restaurant in Charm? Maybe it is similar to the Charm Family Restaurant. In fact, I think Charm Family Restaurant was once Grandma's Homestead.

About the Author:

Shelley Shepard Gray
is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for
the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a
two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she
writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her
dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

About Me

Faith and family are my highest priorities. My faith is in God. Without His strength for my life -- well I just wouldn't make it! My family includes my pastor husband, an adult son, an adult daughter and son-in-law, and the most precious grandsons and granddaughter there are! I retired after teaching high school math for 34 years.